Introduction to Devising
Curious about devising but unsure where to begin? Join The Cockpit's new resident company for this practical workshop, introducing the fundamentals of collaborative theatre-making through playful exercises, discussion, and creative experimentation. Explore how ideas become performance and discover approaches to generating material without starting from a script.
Who could benefit from this course?
This workshop is ideal for actors, directors, writers, performers, and theatre-makers who are interested in creating original work. Whether you're completely new to devising or looking to refresh your practice, the session offers a welcoming introduction to a range of creative approaches.
Participants from different artistic backgrounds are welcome, including those working in theatre, live art, film, puppetry, or interdisciplinary performance. No previous devising experience is required - just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
The workshop is also a great opportunity to meet other creatives, share ideas, and connect with potential collaborators in a relaxed and supportive environment.
How does it work?
Through guided exercises, improvisation, and collaborative tasks, participants will explore a range of entry points into devising. The emphasis is on generating material through play, curiosity, and discovering approaches that can inspire future projects and creative collaborations.
What do you gain?
- An accessible, low-pressure introduction to devised theatre-making.
- Practical exercises and techniques for generating creative material that you can continue exploring in your own work.
- Greater confidence in collaborative creative processes.
- Opportunity to meet and connect with other theatre-makers and creatives.
Dates, Times & Cost
Tuesday 15 September, 2026
6:30pm - 9:30pm
£29 early bird (book by 3 September at 12pm)
regular price £35
Save 10% when you book 2 or more Theatre Maker workshops.
Check out our other "Devising With" sessions:
Devising with Images (3 October)
Devising with Improvisation (11 October)
Devising with Live Cinema (18 October)
THE PALIMPSEST PROJECT
The workshop is led by Beckett Gray and Sam Critchlow of The Palimpsest Project, an international, neurodivergent-led theatre company creating interdisciplinary work that combines physical theatre, puppetry, live cinema, and explorations with sound.
Together, they co-created and performed Imprints, an OFFIE-nominated production exploring memory, identity, and belonging through fragmented storytelling and innovative theatrical forms. Their practice prioritises collaboration, playfulness, and accessibility, creating environments where participants feel supported to experiment and develop their own creative voices.
Sam Critchlow is a theatre director, performer, and Lecoq-trained deviser from the North West. They hold an MA in Directing from Rose Bruford College and trained at the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris and Avignon. Their credits include Project Dictator (Rhum and Clay) and Où Reste Encore un Peu (Avignon Off 2024), alongside Imprints. Sam’s work draws on physical theatre, clown, mask, mime, object theatre, and puppetry, with a particular interest in visual storytelling, devised performance, and collaborative creation. He is passionate about helping participants discover new ways of expressing themselves through theatre.
Beckett Gray is a neurodivergent, genderqueer performer and drag artist with an MA in Acting from Mountview. Their work includes Portrait of A Queer in Panic (Kaleidoscope Theatre Festival, King’s Head Theatre) and Bark Bark (Summerhall Arts). As a performer and theatre maker, Beckett is particularly interested in exploring identity, queerness, and the ways theatre can externalise internal experiences, combining autobiographical material with imaginative and physical forms of storytelling.